A few weeks before massive protests and a government decree ended Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's presidency, 29% of Egyptians expressed confidence in their national government -- the lowest level Gallup has measured since Egypt's revolution began in 2011.

The European Union designated the "military" wing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, inviting strong reaction from Hezbolla describing it as a "legal cover for Israel to attack" Lebanon. The party is using the decision to intimidate UNIFIL forces in South Lebanon through the use of its local elected officials and the population.

As the latest round of talks begin, Aaron David Miller outlines the three core challenges to achieving an agreement. And while the odds against success are long, “Still, Mr. Kerry has put down a bet worth making.”

"U.S. officials must make clear to the Egyptian military and its supporters, as well as to Islamists, that Washington will choose its friends, and that they do not include regimes that curb popular participation at the polls in favor of street mobilization," writes Marina and David Ottaway in The Washington Post.

Stalled efforts to reach an agreement between Israelis and Palestinians are once again front and center. Secretary of State Kerry has committed himself to finding a way forward on a dispute that has become one of the world’s immovable objects. Is there any reason to believe that this time can be different? Aaron Miller, a veteran of Middle East negotiations, provides context.

When Hassan Rouhani takes office as Iran’s newly elected president on August 3, the expectations of those who elected him and expect him to pursue a moderate course will be high, but many remain skeptical about the prospects for real change. Leading Iran expert Shaul Bakhash provides context on expectations for the new president.

There's a great deal we don't know (yet) about John Kerry's efforts to resume negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. So how are we to know if this process is on the right track and won't become just another woulda/shoulda/coulda enterprise? In this article from ForeignPolicy.com, Aaron David Miller lists five things to look for on the U.S. side.

The Emir of Qatar abdicated in favor his 33-year-old-son on June 25, 2013. Six female leaders from four Arab countries — Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan and Syria — were asked how the power transfer to Tamim bin Hamad al Thani could impact the region.

In one of the many bizarre twists of Egypt's recent political convulsion, hardline Salafi parties look poised to replace the Muslim Brotherhood as the most important Islamist players in the political process. It's a situation ripe with irony, writes Senior Scholar Marina Ottaway.